KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



259 



through those of the Gardeners' Chronicle. In 

 the latter it was, that attention was drawn by 

 you to the fact that canary birds may be so 

 far naturalised in our gardens and pleasure 

 grounds, as to breed readily there in the warm 

 months.* But are there no other foreigners 

 capable of being introduced among our 

 native songsters, quite hardy enough to stand 

 our climate at all seasons ? 



At present, I vrill conline myself to one 

 only, which would amply repay any expense 

 or trouble in introducing it to our woods 

 and parks. The bird I am alluding to is the 

 Loxia cardinalis, usually termed among 

 amateurs the Virginian Nightingale, or Car- 

 dinal Grosbeak. Here we have exactly 

 what we now require to supply a great desi- 

 deratum, viz. — a scarlet bird, of the size of 

 a blackbird, an excellent songster for eight 

 months in the year, and one capable of stand- 

 ing any degree of cold to which our climate 

 is ever subject. A friend of mine, who long 

 resided in America (chiefly in Virginia), 

 informs me he has often observed these 

 beautiful creatures in the woods, when the 

 thermometer has been below Zero. 



Wilson, in his American Ornithology, 

 speaks in rapturous terms of this bird, which 

 he represents as hardy, and as a special 

 favorite of the Americans. It frequents 

 low, bushy woods, and lives exactly as our 

 blackbirds and thrushes do — on seeds, corn, 

 fruit, snails, worms, and insects. One pecu- 

 liarity of a valuable kind may be remarked, 

 viz. — the hen sings equally well with the 

 male ; my own experience would lead me 

 to say, almost better, as the resemblance to 

 the "jug" of our English nightingale is more 

 perfect and sweet. I am inclined to believe 

 that no birds are more readily induced to 

 pair and breed in confinement — by which I 

 mean, a large, open room or conservatory ; 

 for a close cage is utterly unsuited to all 

 their habits. 



Where abundant liberty is allowed, the 

 habits of attachment of the Virginian night- 

 ingale are strong, as my own conservatory 

 can attest, in which a pair of them made 

 three nests last summer, and are at pre- 

 sent evidently preparing for nidification. 

 The habits of the Virginian nightingale lead 

 them to build in Ioav, evergreen bushes, as 

 box, myrtle, laurel, &c, which I have placed 



* This subject will not be lost sight of. Henry 

 Wollaston, Esq., of Welling, Kent, has already 

 written to us to come clown and see his Canaries 

 building in the open air; and we anticipate a rich 

 treat. Last year, these pretty creatures afforded 

 us infinite delight. We found them sitting, hatch- 

 ing, and nursing in all parts of Mr. W.'s pic- 

 turesque domain; and their varied colors, as they 

 flew about the park and pleasure grounds, im- 

 parted an indescribable charm to the whole scene. 

 —Ed. K. J. 



for them in large pots or tubs. The favor- 

 ite materials of the nest I have discovered to 

 be hay, fibres, dead leaves, or bits of paper ; 

 the whole bound together by layers of bass 

 matting. The hen lays from two to four 

 whitish eggs, speckled with brown ; and 

 sings, or "jugs," occasionally on the nest, 

 in return to the male. 



I may mention that my conservatory is a 

 cold one, no fire having been in it during the 

 last winter ; and the birds often sang before 

 daylight in February. The male has been 

 domiciled here for four years : but I was 

 only able to procure a female last spring. 

 I am informed that in one of the unglazed phea- 

 santries of the late Earl of Derby, at Knowsley, 

 several pairs of these birds frequently bred 

 in bushes placed for them. My present more 

 immediate object is to call attention, among 

 the lovers of Nature, to the desirableness 

 of introducing and establishing these very 

 ornamental birds in our pleasure grounds ; 

 of course I mean in such localities as are for- 

 bidden to those pests of creation, gunners ; 

 and where they are not likely to be otherwise 

 molested by trespassers of any kind. Many are 

 the spots in which they would luxuriate ; but 

 I may be permitted to give, as one particular 

 instance, that of Windsor Park, where (in the 

 vicinity of Virginia Water) these lovely birds 

 would find a near resemblance to their native 

 scenery in wood and water, in ample security. 

 Would that I had the ear of her Majesty or 

 of her Royal Consort, to plead in behalf of 

 such an interesting importation of foreign 

 singers, in such a favored spot, and at a cost 

 scarcely worth an observation ! A few pairs 

 turned loose in the month of May, would 

 soon increase abundantly ; particularly if 

 this were repeated for three or four succeed- 

 ing seasons. For the information of those 

 desirous of obtaining it, I may add that the 

 Loxia cardinalis can often be seen in the 

 hands of the dealers in foreign birds ; and 

 they may be imported through the agency 

 of Mr. W. J. Marrott, King William Street, 

 near London Bridge. 



I have already observed, that these birds 

 ill brook the confinement of a close cage ; 

 and if imported in the autumn, or very 

 early spring, are best kept in a large room 

 till the season is sufficiently advanced to 

 turn them loose with safety. There ought 

 to be a preponderance, as to numbers, in the 

 females, to prevent contests among the 

 males, which would otherwise be fierce in 

 the extreme. H. T. 



Canonbury, April 12, 1852. 



Hope is itself a species of happiness, and per- 

 haps it is the chief happiness which this world 

 affords. But let it ever be borne in mind, that 

 all hopeful expectations, improperly indulged, 

 must end in disappointment. 



